Upper Hanover bank evacuated for suspicious backpack

UPPER HANOVER — A Wells Fargo bank and several businesses along Gravel Pike were evacuated Thursday afternoon after a woman acting strangely left a backpack behind in the bank lobby.

According to the Pennsylvania State Police Criminal Investigation Unit, the woman, who was later identified, entered the bank on Gravel Pike around 4:30 p.m. She was “exhibiting strange behavior, causing bank employees to become alarmed,” state police said in a press release.

The woman quickly left the bank, but left the backpack behind, causing the employees to call state police and report the incident.

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department bomb unit responded and the bank and surrounding businesses were evacuated around 4:50 p.m.

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Analysis showed the backpack “did not pose a threat,” police said.

The woman will not be charged for the incident, but the investigation continues, police said.

State police were assisted at the scene by Upper Perkiomen Police, Upper Perkiomen Valley Ambulance and the East Greenville Fire Company and Fire Police.